The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-27
pIsMAY IN ALABAMA.
The Value OF Local Markets Realized
by the Farmers and Businese Men.


Montgomery Despatch 70 Cincinnati Commercial
"0f all the 'cussings out l have ever
heard, that with which North Alabama re-
ceives any mention Of President Cleyeland's
name Is the worst"
The speaker was one Of Alabama's most
prominent Democratic politicians, a man
whose fine Italian hand Is power In making
and unmaking State ofieials.l
It's all about that message.
To say that President Cleveland's free
trade TRADE raised howl Of indignation
throughout all Alabama Is a mild expression
Of patent truth, for Alabama is protec-
ti0n State.
/ know some Of my Democratic friends
will dispute that statement, and will contend
that all loyal Southerners make hatred for
shs say Ss5y the PSss O 6rst esr BS Bo
when you hit mans pocket-book you touch
his heart, and that Is exactly what the Presi-
dent has done. Hatred for Republicanism is
one thing, love OF money Is another When
the two clash the latter Is bound to come out
on top.
So much for the general proposition. For
its proof one has only to take run through
Alabama, or, II that Is not possible, talk
with some Alabama people. The change
which has been wrought BY the development
Of the mineral wealth Of tine State Is simply
wonderful And IL Is by no means confined
10 those sections Of the State which are
blessed with this mineral wealth. Every
citizen Of the State is proud Of Birmingham,
Decatur. Gadsden, Admission. Bessemer,
Shefield--cities which stand as living exam
Piles Of the blessings OF the Republican idea,
protection. North Alabama Is solid for pro-
lection, for protection means life. Every
man, woman and child in the Iron region be-
lieves that to place iron ore on the Tree list,
would mean the death Of industries upon
which they depend Tor their daily bread. IL
President Cleveland were to read his mes
sage to these people, ii would create riot.
talked today with man whose promi-
nenee In the politics OF the State makes his
words have great weight.
'srhe situation" he said. sis. from pollt-
ical standpoint, most alarming. The people
all over the State are uD IN arms on this
question, and my observations lead me 10 be-
lieye that three-fourths OF the white voters
are against the President on the issue he has
raised. In North Alabama II Is iron, In
South Alabams 1t Is cotton. So intense Is
the feeling upon this subject that believe
you might search the cities OF North Alaba-
ma with fine tooth comb and you wogldn,t
find single free trader. Why, they'd mob
a fellow Of that kind up there. This feeling
prevails not with the manufacturers alone,
but merchants, farmers, everybody talks
that way. Go into the country and you WIN
find the farmers rampant pr0tectionists. They
argue that the building up Of these towns
means an increased market for the products
of taeir farms. and they are for anything
that tends 10 build up those towns"
But the feeling Is not confined to the
North, he continued. "The planters In all
parts Of the State are alarmed. They seem
to think that If wool goes on the free list,
cotton will follow. and sthey say, leave well
enough alone The worst feature Of the
whole business is the split among the white
people Of the State. IL this agitation con-
tinues, the old cry OF hatred TO the RepuDli-
cans won't 20 down, and we will see two
parties here in Alabama. In that case the
protectionists will see that the negro votes;
then gOOd-by Democratic supremacy"
He talked In a sad strain, for he was wor-
ried. The old politician seemed to see the
handwriting ON the wall. For years he and
his fellOw-schemers have had everything
their own way, for the whites have pulled
together. Now a crash Is Imminent, ana
they tremble as they look into the future.
Democracy-at least free trade Democracy
lis doomed. so fal as Alabama Is concerned.